Electric sign.



PATENTED SEPT. 5, 1905.

G. HALLER.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

APPLICATION rum) 0GT.19, 1904.

a! ai ed F UNI'ITED STAIITES PAIENT @FFIGE.

CARL IIALLICR, OF I'IICAHU, ILLINOIS, ASSIHULM I() THE IIALLICR- .\I.\(IIIII\'IG ().\II \NY, ()F (IIIK AGO, ILLINOIS, A (I()I{.I()IL'\'II()N (H) F ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

Application filed October 19, 1904. Serial No. 229,187.

To lr/Iont if my (once/'11:

Be it known that I, am. IIwLLnn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electric signs wherein the letter outline is illuminated by incandescent lamps; and the objects of the invention are, lirst, to simplify the construction so that a sign may be produced with a mininnun expenditure of time, labor, and material; second, to combine lightness of weight with stiffness and rigidity, and, third, to provide the other details hereinafter set forth. I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a face view of a sign embodying my invention. Fig. is a sectional view thereof. taken on the line 2, .Fig. 1. Fig. I") is a rear perspective view of a letter-outline shell or casing. Fig. i is an enlargei'l fragmentary view showing a portion of the rim and also showing the lamp-sockets attached to the back plate and provided with their electric connections. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. except that the lamps and shell are removed. Fig. T is a Sectional view of a portion of a letter-shell drawn to the same scale as Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a development of a corner portion of the metal sheet of which in the preferred construction the back plate is formed.

Similar letters refer to similar part-s throughout the several views.

The back plate consists, preferably, of single sheet of metal cut at the corners in the manner illustrated in Fig. o and subsequently bent so as to form the central letter-bearing portion a, the riser the facing c, the outer wall 1/, and the flange 1 In order to facilitate attaclnnent to a wall or other object upon which the sign is to be supported, the wall 1/ is of a greater height than the riser b. By this construction also a space is afforded for the electric wiring and connections between the central sign portion 1/ and such wall or outer supporting object. The same would be true when instead of being attached to a wall two back plates are secured together back to back to form a doublefaced sign, such as are commonly employed when the sign is to project out over the sidewalk.

It is obvious that when the back plate is formed in the manner shown, the box-like rim imparts great stiffness and rigidity and yet adds but little to the weight of the sign.

The lamp-sockets f are secured directly to the back plate and arranged thereon in such manner as to form the outline of the letters. The wiresf" lead from one socket to another on the front of the plate to furnish the necessary current; but the wiresf", leading from the source of supply or leading from one letter to another, are brought through suitable apertures in the back plate, so that the wiring may be invisible from the front. After the sockets are fixed in position the letter shells or casings y/ are placed over them. These shells or casings form the letters and are box-like members, except that they are open at the back, where they are provided with ears or flanges whereby they are soldered or bolted or otherwise secured to said back plate. By preference the height of the letter-shell is slightly greater than the height of the sockets, so that said sockets may be protected from the weather. .In the top or face of the letter-shells are the apertures which register with the sockets f, so that the lamp /t may be inserted thercinto.

One of the important features of this invention lies in the fact that the sockets f are attached directly to the plate which forms the general backing of the sign. During the manufacture one workman maybe occupied in permanently attaching the sockets to the back plate without reference to any secondary or intermediate piece, while another workman may be simultaneously engaged at a distance in constructing the shells themselves. \Vhen both are intlependently completed, the casings, which are light in weight and easily handled, are simply placed over the sockets and secured in position. There is required no fitting or joining of the different parts of a letter and no transporting while the sockets are within, as, is the common method of to-day. The lamp-sockets in the aggregate have considerable weight, and by the old method the letters must be made strong enough to carry them.

In this construction, on the contrary, the weight of the sockets is all carried by the back plate, and the shells are simply to supply the letter outlines. By this construction also a separate backing for the letters becomes superfluous, and consequently there is a saving in time and labor, material, and weight.

By preference the letter-casings at any given cross-section consist of a single piece of metal, and as this is also true of the back plate it follows that the completed sign may readily be made completely waterproof. Of course if one sheet of metal employed in the manu facture of the sign has not sufficient superficial area to form the entire back and rim plate or the entire letter-shell said sheet of metal may be supplemented by being soldered or riveted to another sheet; but in this case the two would become to all intents and purposes a single sheet, and such a construction would be embraced in the term a one-piece back plate or one-piece letter-shell.

Another important feature of this invention is concerned with the formation of the boxlike rim formed integral with the back plate. Said rim, comprising the riser Z), facing 0, and outer walls (Z, constitutes a girder or framework which accomplishes three purposes, to wit: First, it strengthens and stiffens the entire back plate without adding much weight or any joints through which water may attack the interior wiring; second, it protects the sockets, inasmuch as it projects beyond the same, and, third, it adds to the appearance by giving an impression of great weight and solidity and in addition furnishes a border to further set off the sign. By painting the riser 5 white or a light color it will act as a reflector to collect and direct the rays of light.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric sign, the combination with a back plate; lamp-sockets secured thereto in letter outline; suitable feed -conductors for said sockets; and an open-bottom letter-outline shell housing said sockets and secured to said back plate, the front of said shell being provided with apertures in alinement with the several housed sockets to receive the lamps, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an electric-light sign, the combination of a metal back plate; lamp-sockets secured thereto in letter outline; an open-bottom letter-outline shell, housing said sockets and securedto said back plate, the front of said shell being provided with apertures in alinement with the several housed sockets to receive thelamps and a rim upon said back plate; said rim constituting a box like border to strengthen and stiffen said back plate substantially as described.

3. In an electric sign, the combination of a metal back plate having a rim; lamp-sockets metal back plate; lamp-sockets secured there' to in letter outline, suitable feed-conductors for said sockets; an open-bottom letter-outline" shell housing said sockets and secured to said back plate, the front of said shell being provided with apertures in alinement with the several housed sockets to receive the lamp; and a raised rim formed integral with said back plate, the outer peripheral walls of said rim being of greater height than the height of said rim above the center letter-bearing portion of the back plate whereby space is aiford ed behind said center letter-bearing portion of said back plate for the feed-conductors.

5. In an electric-light sign; the combination of a metal back plate; lamp-sockets secured thereto in letter outline; suitable feed-conducto'rs for said sockets; an open-bottom letter-outline shell housing said sockets and secured to said back plate, the front of said shell being provided with apertures in alinement with the several housed sockets to receive the lamp; a raised rim formed integral with said back plate, the outer peripheral wall of said rim being of greater height than the height of said rim above the center letter-bearing portion of the back plate, and the rear edge of said outer wall having a flange, as 6, whereby said back plate may be secured to an exterior object, a space being thereby afiorded between the plane of said flange and the center letterbearing portion of said back plate for the purpose described.

CARL HALLER. Witnesses:

HOWARD M. Cox, ELEONORE J. MARLIN. 

